Be Italian

MANILA, Philippines - I first became familiar with Nine on a family trip to the US in 1983 where I picked up the cassette tape for what was then the most popular musical in New York, having won the Tony Award for Best Musical. Although I didn’t understand much of the plot by listening to the cassette, I fell in love with the music.

Remember, this was back in an era where Wikipedia and Google were not accessible with the click of a button. All I had to give me a glimpse of what this show was like were the liner notes and a few photos in the cassette cover. The rest I had to close my eyes and imagine. And that is the true genius of Maury Yeston’s music of Nine. If you close your eyes and listen to it, it transports you. To Italy. To the Folies Bergeres. To the Broadway stage.

Many years later, as I continued my obsession with the show, I would come to understand what the musical was all about (and realize that, as I child, I was never meant to understand it until I grew up and lived a little). I would come to appreciate the genius of Arthur Kopit’s book that told its beautiful story in a non-linear, non-traditional way unlike most other musicals.

Nine also sparked my interest for Italian cinema and filmmakers that I have admired up to now. And it sparked my love affair with Yeston’s music that I continue to this day. Have you heard the score to his newest musical Death Takes a Holiday? Simply stunning.

In 2004, I decided that I wanted to do this dream musical of mine. But life has a way of letting you know that you aren’t ready for it. I got sidetracked and moved to Hong Kong where I lived for a couple of years to open the Hong Kong Disneyland Park as its first show director.

Now, eight years later, the stars have aligned like I never thought they would, and I am about to open a show that has been close to my heart since my childhood with a cast and creative team that I continuously thank the heavens for. In Guido Contini’s words, “I am ready!”

There would no Nine without a stellar Guido. He goes on a rollercoaster ride of emotions, is in every scene of the show, never leaves the stage and sings a grueling, almost operatic score. Thank God, Philippine musical theater has Jett Pangan. I have worked with Jett for the last 10 years and he has grown and matured into, in my opinion, the country’s finest musical theater leading man. I stand by my word when I say, no one could play Guido the way Jett has. Strong. Proud. Childish. Confused. Romantic. Heartbreaking. It is a performance that propels him into a league of his own.

And where would Nine be without its cast of beautifully talented women? Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo and I have one of the best professional relationships a director could ever have with his actress. Because we have worked with each other regularly for many years, we speak in shorthand. A word or even just a look or a breath and we know what the other wants. She creates a breathtaking Luisa, singing and acting every nuance in Yeston’s score and lyrics.

Cherie Gil is a soulmate, and someone I suspect I was married to in a past life. Since we first met in 2001, we have become inseparable. There for each other in the best of times and the worst, it brings me great pride to be by her side again during this great transformation in her life that is taking place before my eyes as she creates a fabulous Liliane Le Fleur. She is, in my opinion, the country’s finest dramatic actress. Her instinct and command of character is unparalleled. Now, she takes on her biggest challenge, singing and dancing as former Folies Bergeres star Liliane Le Fleur. And how she shines. It is a performance of sheer genius.

Eula Valdez is someone I have wanted to work with for a very long time. After I saw her fantastic turn in Zsa Zsa Zaturnah, I went up to her and told her that I would one day love to work with her. And now, the time has come, as she brings the film star and must to Guido, Claudia Nardi, to heart-wrenching life. Every day as she sings Unusual Way, one of my favorite music theater songs, I am transported to another world. It is a divine performance.

Carla Guevara-Laforteza (in a show-stopping and heart-breaking performance), Ima Castro (ummm, that voice!), Sitti Navarro, Yanah Laurel and Jay Glorioso have worked with us numerous times before. And it is always a joy to welcome them back on stage in our shows. They are some of the most talented performers this country has. They are joined by a solid ensemble featuring Japs Treopaldo, Reg Claravall, Mikki Bradshaw and Princess Virtudazo. Completing the cast are two of the best child actors around — Warren David Saga and Ethan Paras.

Having aligned a dream cast, I knew I also wanted a dream creative team so I approached Tony Award-winning set designer David Gallo to design the set. Dave and I worked together during the Asian tour of Cinderella and we had an incredible professional relationship. Over time, he and his wife Sarah have become dear friends. Without hesitation, he said yes. And he will be assisted locally by Lex Marcos and Lawyn Cruz. Costume design is by New York-based Filipino designer Robin Tomas who recently launched his line Tomas. Choreography is by Cecile Martinez, lighting design by Jay Aranda, musical direction by Ceejay Javier and vocal direction by ManMan Angsico. I am lucky to have them all on my side of the table, helping me create the show.

Nine is about a cinematic genius who can turn the cacophony of voices in his head into art. It is a complex musical that defies tradition. It is the equivalent of watching an art film on stage. The present, the past, and even fantasy all live together in Guido’s mind — the stage. But ultimately, it is a musical about that one thing that all great musicals are about — relationships. I suspect everyone will find a little bit of themselves in the many characters who populate this glorious musical.

Like all of our productions over the last 13 years, Nine would not be possible without the support of many corporations. The Philippine STAR, Delta Airlines, Cats Motors, Inc., Richmonde Hotel Ortigas, Metrobank, BusinessWorld, Portfolio, Velvet, Metro Magazine, Myx, Hit Productions, MBC Radio, Crossover 105.1, Mellow 94.7, MAC Cosmetics, Digipost Marketing, Media Magnet Innovation, ClickTheCity, A.Shop, Spot.ph, 7th High, Sir Boy’s Food Republique, Burger King, Superbowl of China, Moshi-Moshi, Fat Boy’s Pizza, Busnok, Capreal Restaurant, Nestle Acti-V, Spy Wine Cooler, Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium in RCBC Plaza, The City of Makati and all our loyal showbuyers and ticket buyers make it possible for us to bring these shows to Manila.

It has been a dream come true to finally work on Nine. What has made it even more special is knowing that it will never happen again. It will be next to impossible to gather all these amazing artists together in one room again for a repeat run. And to even attempt to do it without any one of them won’t be worth it. So this is it. The one and only run of Nine. And I am beaming with pride.

We can’t wait to raise the curtain and welcome you all to the show. For a couple of hours at least, we invite you to “Be Italian!”

For details, call Atlantis Productions at 892-7078 or Ticketworld at 891-9999.